The Dangers of Legal Drugs

I read this article about the epidemic of prescription drug abuse. I was struck by how it all started: Oh, you're in pain? Here, I've got something for that.

Short-term, immediate relief. No consideration as to why the pain existed, or how to remove the pain in the long term.

Of course no one wants to be in pain. And, of course, short term pain relief is sometimes warranted. But could it be that part of a recipe for addiction is thinking only in the short term?

Acknowledging the Foundation

Like many churches, my congregation does work in the community. As we started a new sermon series, the pastor acknowledged the past work done by churches who existed before ours. 'We build on their foundation', he said.

Not all churches understand this concept. I have been in places where, when a community venture was announced, it was as if we would be the first and last game in town. I once asked why we didn't partner with an existing organization, so as not to re-create the wheel. The man looked at me like I was crazy.

Church Leader, if you'd rather re-create the wheel so you can say "This is Our Such & Such", I question your commitment to the community.

Why are you so concerned with having your church's name on it? Why do you rejoice in the inefficient use of resources?

Your prize should be the people getting help, not adulation for the appearance of being helpful. Any fool can take a photo op.

Church Leader, if you are really committed to the community, look at who's already working there. Perhaps God is calling you to add to an existing foundation.

More Martin and Zimmerman

This morning I read that the gun that killed Trayvon Martin only had George Zimmerman's DNA on it. Zimmerman has asserted he shot Martin because Martin was reaching for Zimmerman's gun.

Before you get too excited, remember that reaching for is not the same as touched. That is, if Zimmerman had asserted Martin touched his gun, then the evidence would dispute that. However, Zimmerman said reached for. If Martin tried, but was unsuccessful in making contact with the gun, then it is logical for only Zimmerman's DNA to be on it.

Also, remember that this is a piece of the evidence puzzle. I am curious about the trajectory of the bullet(s), and other physics stuff. How does the physics of the shooting support or dispute Zimmerman's assertions? Does the distance at which Martin was shot tell us whether he could have been considered a physical threat?

In other words, breathe. The trial was a long time coming – despite Florida's Stand Your Ground law, it seems there was enough evidence for at least an involuntary manslaughter charge*. But now that the trial has begun, we should hope and pray for justice and not just us.

*said the woman who has absolutely no legal training whatsoever.

A Tragedy Squared for the Week of September 16th

A disabled woman, sent to that hospital after being beaten by her son, has died. Her death was not due to the physical wounds she received from her son, who was her primary caregiver.

Her son is 11 years old.

As tragic as the woman's death is, I wonder why it was acceptable for an 11-year old to be the primary caregiver to a disabled adult. To be responsible for meals and laundry seems a heavy burden for one so young. It was wrong of him to beat her (apparently repeatedly). But if her disability was such that she could not help with cooking or cleaning, it wrong for responsible adults to put him in such a predicament.

Which begs the question: who paid the bills?

Community Policing

While gardening, a woman finds a suspicious bag buried in her yard. She takes the bag to the police, who tell her "The gang isn't going to like this". When she was threatened – with extortion, with rape, with death – the most they could do was stand guard while she packed her belongings and moved out of her house.

Two reactions:

1. What IS community policing? What good is it if the police can't protect people from intimidation?

2. Oooohhh. The No Snitch code is not about supporting the bad guys; it's about survival. One can live in silent fear or be killed for angering the wrong people. Most people, when given the option, choose life.

On What Akin Said

Perhaps he was thinking of vaginismus,a condition where penetration can become virtually impossible.

If he was, his understanding is still poor. The condition could be psychosomatic – the physical manifestation of a mental trauma – or not. There are degrees of severity. It is unpredictable.

So yes, Akin's understanding of the female body is less than most. A larger issue is the idea that a woman who becomes pregnant during non-consensual sexual intercourse must not have been raped.

But what if the motive for the rape was pregnancy? We are depraved enough as a species to use sex as a weapon. Do you think it beyond our capacity to use pregnancy to inflict pain? To attempt to use life as a means of destruction?

Another issue, brought up during all the hoopla, is the concept of "forcible" rape. It suggests that if force was not involved, rape did not occur. Someone slip you a date rape drug and had sex with you while you were unconscious? Perhaps you got so drunk you passed out and became a sex doll for a cadre of men and boys.

You were not conscious to say no, to fight back. Some would say you were not forced. Some would argue you were not raped.

I wonder. If the victims in such circumstances were boys or men, would the matter of force even be questioned?

Here Comes Honey Boo Boo

White people. Imagine if you will a media landscape where the only images that physically look like you all acted like this.

Where ever you go in the country, around the world, people see you and assume you act just like the family in Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.

(I know some of you rednecks are saying "that happens now". I'm saying what if the ONLY images of white people in the media were exemplified by family of Honey Boo Boo. NO images of George Clooney or Ava Gardener, Ann Richards or Ronald Reagan.)

Let's rest a minute. Think on this. The tv shows have some version of this family. Or there's that one character meant to "represent" white people. Articles about white people beating the odds include an unwritten subtext – this person had to overcome the "tragedy" of being born white. Because you know.

Do you see? Do you understand why people of color get excited when we see images that don't cater to stereotypes? The Asian cop who gets the bad guys and the girl? The Latina computer geek? Do you see why it's important for us to see ourselves in the full breadth of what we are, and not the tiny slice of who some think we are?

Goodbye, LinkedIn

Dear LinkedIn,

It's time we said goodbye.

On your site, people who know who they are, or

where they're going or,

where they want to go,

tell each other their strengths and see how they can help each other.

You ask simple questions – What do you do? What do you want to do?

As to the first, I'm ashamed to tell you. I don't want to give the impression I'm eager to travel down the implied career paths. I've neither the temperament nor patience for what I know of the insurance industry.

As to the second question – I don't know.

You see, you're for the assured. For those who know where they fit at any given moment. For those who have the faintest inkling of a plan.

But I've never known. Not when I was fourteen, not now. But I was a high school honor student and college bound and I'd been told I was smart and smart people have plans and know where they're going so

I made something up. Hobbled together interests and tried to meet others' expectations. And when that didn’t work out, I tried something else. Patched together newly discovered aptitudes and tried to meet others' expectations. And when that didn’t work out, I tried something else. Went back to childhood interests and tried to meet others' expectations…

Surely you felt it. The number of times I've drastically changed my profile. I know it doesn't sit well with you. You have your categories. You want simple professional definitions.

I've tried time and again, but I can't give you what you need to function at your best. And I can't keep making up careers to pursue. I've been a ship tossed to and fro in the ocean. I'm tired of being seasick.

Perhaps one day, we can be together again. But until then,

Adieu,

Odd Definition of Boring

According to Nicholas Kristof, the negative side of President Obama's agriculture focus in aiding Africa is that it's boring.

Wow.

Finding ways to help a struggling nation thrive with their resources is boring.

Constantly delivering tons of food and supplies is glamorous.

That's messed up.

What Sophistication Isn't

"How could an illiterate man, newly released from bondage, produce such a work of sophisticated satire?" the journalists ask.

Ummm

Neither literacy nor freedom is part of the definition of sophistication.

So, why are you surprised a former slave could dictate such wit?

Leave the Statue

I had heard the name Joe Paterno, but frequently confused it Rick Pitino, the college basketball coach. I had never even seen him before the Sandusky Scandal.

My introduction JoePa's philosophy came by way of an article in the Wall Street Journal. In 2007, almost 24 players stormed an apartment with the intent of beating the living daylights out of its occupants. Six were eventually charged.

If you break into an apartment with the purpose of seriously injuring the people who are there,

and you get caught,

doesn't integrity say you accept and suffer the consequences of your actions?

Yet JoePa preferred to have the team spend two hours picking up trash after a game. It seems he did not want the players to be held legally accountable; he certainly didn't want them to miss any game time.

I was confused. What integrity were they crowing about when people spoke of Joe Paterno? Because if his definition of integrity did not include being responsible for the consquences for your actions, then what definition was he using?

Based on the Freeh report, Paterno knew what Sandusky did. With this being my only exposure to his philosophy, I was not surprised.

Nonetheless, his statue should stay.

His legacy is now an example of the chasm between what we seek to be and what we are. Let his statue remind us to continue striving to shrink that gap.

Not Black Enough

There's a beautiful soft flower sculpture outside of San Francisco City Hall. I surmised it is part of an exhibit at the Asian Art Museum. (The exhibit runs from May 18 - September 2.) A woman asked about the sculpture, and I told her my discovery. As we walked toward BART, she said (1),

I've noticed there's a lot of celebration of Asians' contributions here, but not a lot of recognition of African-Americans'.

Oh. I hadn't noticed that.

I understand having a month to celebrate, but through September? That's just too long.

Well, it looks like a museum exhibit. I think that's normal time frame for exhibits.

I don't think we get enough recognition.

There's an African American museum.

And where is the African American museum?

Well, there's the African Diaspora Museum on 2^nd…

(I didn't know exactly where the Africa-American museum was, but I'd been to the Diaspora one.)

It's just too much.

What about Picasso? Um, the D'Orsay? When they came to Legion of Honor it ran from October? through January? (2)

That's different. That's a person.

No, the D'Orsay was a collection. But I see your point, I finished, as we parted ways.

Seriously? You complain about Asians being recognized while walking in front of the Asian Art Museum? In San Francisco? Where Angel Island was the Ellis Island of the West, ushering many Chinese into California?

I'm not saying African Americans didn't play a prominent role in the city (the Fillmore district comes to mind), or that more recognition isn't warranted. But there's been a significant Asian presence in San Francisco since Gold Rush days. It should not be minimized.

This is why some folks don't think I'm black enough.

(1) Not verbatim, of course. My memory's not that good. <snort> My memory's not good at all.

(2) Yea, I know I have the details wrong. But you get the gist, yea?